San Francisco Giants’ Barry William Zito: Player Outlook
The left-handed starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, Barry William Zito is an agile athlete striving to make his mark by something remarkable this Major League Baseball season. Having played seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics, he has on his
credit the 2002 American League CY Young Award and phenomenally made three All-Star teams.
Until 2008 where he missed his first schedule start, the left-hander has had the distinction to lead the American League in starts four times. His achievements do not really stop there because that would be too less for a player of his stature. Zito seems
to be in constant hunt to add tremendously exciting features in his ever brightening stats. After what became known as one of the successful seasons he played in 2006, he signed a contract that remains unmatched in the history of baseball for a pitcher. It
was the single most expensive contract to be signed.
His pre and post pitching for the All-Star Game manifests a difference that is indeed extraordinary. He remains one of the greatest second half-pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball. Among other things, it goes without saying that he has established
an impressive record of his greatness, as the most successful of front running pitchers. He holds a record of 110-6 gleaning a support of 4 runs.
His seventh season with the All-Stars led to a signing of a staggering 120-million-dollar deal with the San Francisco Giants that added 18-million-dollar option for 2014 with an equally big sum of a 7-million-dollar buyout. Important to mention here is that
Zito’s contact was the highest to be paid to any pitcher in the history of the Major League.
Barry Zito, if you cast a look at his early career an amazing talent, remained a stand-out pitcher with a record 105 strike-outs at the University of San Diego. Barry was drafted thrice, first by the Seattle Mariners in 1996, then by the Texas Rangers in
1998 and eventually with the Oakland Athletics in 1999. The first two times he was drafted, Barry did not sign, but finally signed when the Oakland Athletics used the 9th pick on him and gave him a 2.5-million-dollar signing bonus. His professional
debut came in 2002.
In his first full season with Oakland Athletics, his strike-outs were no less than 205, a record that was fourth best in the history of the American League. His fastball has averaged between 85-90mph which he backs up with a circle change-up and a conventional
“12-to-6” curveball which he effectively employs for a strike-out pitch. Zito’s curveball, despite its slowness, was voted among the best in the Major Leagues in a player poll. His arsenal has seen two new additions of a two-seam fastball and a slider as well.
His slider, in particular, became the most lethal of weapons put to use by Zito.
His pitching performance has been experiencing ascension. Zito succeeded in making changes to his delivery after the seemingly worrying diminishment of velocity at the beginning of 2007 season. This he has done by considerably lowering his arm slot which
usually stayed an over the top angle to a three quarters delivery. It is therefore unsurprising that the fastball velocity of Zito is now hovering around 85-80mph. It is his performance that the recent rumours that his name is not assured a spot in the Giants’
roster shocked the San Francisco team manager, Bruce Bouchy, who forcefully denied it. His consistency has suffered a bit recently that adds to this rumour mongering. But despite all the unpleasant odds that will come his way in the days to come, Zito is poised
to do something exceptional that will silence even his fiercest critics.
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